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Springfield, Ohio – A panel discussion titled "Privilege II: Education as Transformative" will serve as the kick-off to a busy week of events related to Wittenberg University's annual celebration of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. The panel discussion is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, in Bayley Auditorium in the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center.

The event, moderated by Associate Professor of English Carmiele Wilkerson, builds off last year's panel discussion, "Poverty vs. Privilege in the Black Community," which debated the controversial Michael Eric Dyson book, Is Bill Cosby Right? Or Had the Black Middle Class Lost Its Mind?, as well as the issue of impoverished African Americans.

Sitting on this year's panel are Philana Crite, a student support services counselor at Clark State Community College, Wittenberg Director of Multicultural Student Programs Forest Wortham, Assistant Dean for Judicial Affairs John Young and Assistant Provost for the First Year Experience Miguel Martinez-Saenz.

Wilkerson said the panel relates well to the expertise of Lani Guiner, the first black woman appointed to a tenured professorship at Harvard Law School and the keynote speaker of Wittenberg's 18th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation. The panel will focus on the theme "Education as Transformation," covering topics such as the MLK poor people's campaign and the importance of the Civil Rights Movement to the 21st century. It will also cover the hot issue of access to higher education and social justice.

Wilkerson hopes the panel will spark debate and discussion among the Wittenberg community regarding these social issues.

"The panel will lead the audience into a reflective and refreshing discussion of transformative behavior and our social commitment to society," she said.